Georgia Institute of Technology
OP-5: Building Energy Efficiency

2010 – This is the earliest year that we have electronic record keeping. Georgia Tech uses Energy Cap as the energy management software. Energy Cap started tracking energy data for campus in FY 2010.

As mechanical systems typically make up 50% or more of a building’s energy use, Georgia Tech has tried to take a wider approach to comfort than simply controlling space temperature. In some recently completed projects we have employed overhead fans with the ability to control speed in conjunction with raising the space temperature setpoint. The Kendeda building, designed to meet all requirements of the Living Building Challenge, is one such building and takes such a strategy the furthest by controlling space temps in a range of 70-78F. In that range, the occupants can control space overhead fans to enhance their level of comfort. Below or above that range, a radiant heating and cooling system is engaged. Additionally, Georgia Tech uses a demand response temperature control strategy in many buildings that responds to our real time pricing of electricity. When costs spike, space control normally set at 72.5F with a +/-2.5F deadband (for a range of 70F-75F) increases to a deadband of +/-5F (for a range of 67.5-77.5). Through these programs and community engagement, Georgia Tech seeks to inform occupants of the relationship between space temperature and energy consumption. -gs

The Kendeda Building also serves as a campus “hub” for the community around sustainable practices. The building implements the most progressive sustainable practices that visually define action and attitudes to stakeholders.

The Green Fund has allowed facilities team to prioritize energy and water conservation projects. Funding in place focused on energy conservation projects support. Resiliency is a framework for GT to view sustainability long term, and resiliency projects such as electrical support systems are prioritized in implementation strategies.

Georgia Tech uses an automated Digital Direct Controls Building Management System to control the mechanical systems across Campus. This system monitors and regulates building temperature setpoints based on occupancy and real-time electrical power costs.

Georgia Tech is currently piloting and deploying Fault Detection and Diagnostic (FDD) tools to detect inefficient behavior. Such FDD tools are being utilized in the Kendeda building and to support a Guaranteed Energy Savings Performance contract in the ES&T and UA Whitaker buildings.

Georgia Tech provides district steam and chilled water to sectors of its main campus. Steam and chilled water system are controlled by an industrial ABB Symphony Plus system. The chilled water system was modified in FY2016 to a variable volume primary system, enhanced with the addition of variable speed drives and controlled by an Optimum Energy’s controls platform that works with the ABB system to deploy the most efficient equipment.

Georgia Tech design standards require conformance with ASHRAE 55 and 62.1. Georgia Tech has recently piloted projects for conformance with ASHRAE 189.1. In general Georgia Tech looks to require conformance with ASHRAE 90.1 editions that go beyond state mandates.

All areas except cooling processes must meet indoor temperature, humidification, and dehumidification requirements set by the “Office of Facilities Architectural and Engineering Design Standards – Georgia Tech Yellow Book”. Air conditioning, humidification, and various temperature controls are set to modern, sustainable standards according to this manual. Also, Georgia Tech’s College of Architecture has a Digital Building Laboratory that also includes Energy and Sustainability as a focus. (http://www.dbl.gatech.edu/)

All new and renovated facilities include occupancy sensing and/or time-based lighting control systems. The goal of these systems is to ensure that lighting is only active when the space is occupied. Where appropriate, daylight sensors are also deployed to disable lighting near windows when an adequate amount of light is entering from the windows.

LED lighting is now the standard indoors for all new facilities and renovations when an appropriate commercial fixture is available that is suitable for the application. LED fixtures must provide IES LM80 information showing an L70 life of at least 50,000 hours. Exit signs must be lit by and LED source.



LED is now the standard for all outdoor fixtures, building-mounted, parking lot, parking decks, and sidewalks. Existing outdoor fixtures (high pressure sodium, fluorescent, and others) are being replaced with fixtures containing an LED source.

The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design is intended to be certified by the Living Building Challenge. It was designed with a high-performance envelope that takes advantage of passive energy strategies.

Georgia Tech’s campus does not have geothermal systems.

The campus does not have a co-generation facility.

In 2015 Georgia Tech along with the University of Georgia was approached by the Board of Regents and given the opportunity to engage in a Guaranteed Energy Savings Performance Contract (GESPC) as an effort intended to pave the way for other USG members to take advantage of such an opportunity. Georgia Tech’s project was primarily focused on improving the efficiency of its district chilled water systems served by (2) central plants. The project included retrofitting the plants from a constant volume primary system to a variable primary flow, retrofitting an existing chiller to variable volume, replacing (2) aging constant volume chillers with a new variable speed chiller, installation of pump and fan vfds and the implementation of the Optimum Energy controls platform to maximize plant performance. The project resulted in an energy reduction of approximately 1/3 over the baseline and over $1.5M savings annually. It also provided for a $500k rebate from Ga Power, the largest of its kind. The project’s cost was $7.5M and will pay for itself, including finance and M&V expenses, over a 7-year period with a positive cash flow year over year. To date, the project has completed 3 years of performance and has met the guarantee each year.



In 2019 Georgia Tech sought its second GESPC contract focused on (2) of its highest energy consuming laboratory buildings: ES&T and UA Whitaker. The project’s focus was on replacing aging laboratory controls and right sizing lab air exchanges to provide for laboratories that are safer, more functional and more efficient. Construction on the project completed in September of 2020 and has well exceeded the guaranteed savings to date. Airflow reductions over baseline in UA Whitaker are over 50% and in ES&T are over 70%. The project cost was $6.5M and will pay for itself, including finance and M&V expenses, over a 10 year period with a positive cash flow year over year.



Georgia Tech is in the process of developing a Fault Detection and Diagnostic program that will better enable the tracking of building performance, correction of inefficient behaviors and the implantation of energy conservation measures. This program now consists of piloting of different technologies across campus and is actively supporting the GESPC laboratory project noted above as well as the Kendeda building’s performance.



Through Georgia Tech’s Green Fund and other available sources, Georgia Tech has been able to replace aging mechanical equipment such as chillers and air handling units across campus. Focus has also included lighting retrofits in buildings, on site and in parking decks.